How to Deal with a Bad Gift
Original image by freestocks on Unsplash.
Do not lie.
If you receive a gift you simply detest, do not complicate the situation by lying. Do not praise the gift and say that you’ve always wanted one: The giver may later wonder why you are not using the gift or why it is not displayed in your home—or you may get something similar next year. If you receive an awful sweater, say something neutral like, “I love sweaters.” If the giver is still not convinced that you like the present, try it on; you may also be able to offer another partially true compliment: “What a perfect fit!” If you receive as a gift something you already own, you do not need to advise the giver. Say, “I love this [thing]. How did you know?”
Thank the giver for the thought, not the gift.
Say, “How thoughtful of you” or “Thanks for thinking of me” or “I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
Do not overpraise the gift or the giver.
Keep your thanks simple and brief.
Determine where the gift was purchased.
If there was no gift receipt, check the packaging, label, and tags for a store name. If you cannot determine where it was purchased, ask the giver appreciatively: “Where did you ever find this?” Note the name in order to return the gift later.
Regift it.
Unwrap the gift completely to make certain that it does not contain a hidden card, monogramming, or other giver- or recipient-specific identification. Rewrap it in fresh wrapping materials.